I didn’t feel quite as drugged up immediately after this last round, so with nausea meds in tow just in case, my friend Mary and I went back to the Cancer Center Tuesday evening (chemo day) to the “Look Good, Feel Better” program sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
My motivation for going was the promise that I’d come away with $250 in skin care and makeup products donated by various manufacturers and recommended for extra sensitive “chemo” skin. What I didn’t think about was how good it would feel to sit in a room with eight other women in various stages of cancer.
Their ages ranged from 37 to 65. As we introduced ourselves and shared our particular brand of cancer, I was struck by the number of women in their second recurrence (undergoing their second series of chemo treatments). Yet another woman was in her third recurrence, with recent lung surgery and undergoing her third series of chemo. Sigh… Those were scary thoughts, for sure. “Wow these women are tough,” I thought. They seemed quite happy and looked healthy.
Three of us eventually removed our hats to reveal bald heads and none of us felt the least bit self conscious. It was obvious we were in this together – and as we got into trying the products (drawing “pretend” eyebrows, etc.) the chatter and laughter was reassuring, indeed. Those of us without hair modeled various head covers and wigs and no one was shy about admitting what “worked” and what didn’t. We all got our choice of knitted hats, too, homemade and donated by volunteers.
Of course I had my camera along, and as the evening progressed more and more of the women asked to have their pictures taken (sporting their new makeup and hats) and asked that I email them copies. New friends abound!
My motivation for going was the promise that I’d come away with $250 in skin care and makeup products donated by various manufacturers and recommended for extra sensitive “chemo” skin. What I didn’t think about was how good it would feel to sit in a room with eight other women in various stages of cancer.
Their ages ranged from 37 to 65. As we introduced ourselves and shared our particular brand of cancer, I was struck by the number of women in their second recurrence (undergoing their second series of chemo treatments). Yet another woman was in her third recurrence, with recent lung surgery and undergoing her third series of chemo. Sigh… Those were scary thoughts, for sure. “Wow these women are tough,” I thought. They seemed quite happy and looked healthy.
Three of us eventually removed our hats to reveal bald heads and none of us felt the least bit self conscious. It was obvious we were in this together – and as we got into trying the products (drawing “pretend” eyebrows, etc.) the chatter and laughter was reassuring, indeed. Those of us without hair modeled various head covers and wigs and no one was shy about admitting what “worked” and what didn’t. We all got our choice of knitted hats, too, homemade and donated by volunteers.
Of course I had my camera along, and as the evening progressed more and more of the women asked to have their pictures taken (sporting their new makeup and hats) and asked that I email them copies. New friends abound!
